Avian Technician - South Sound

https://ecoinst.org/about-us/work-with-us/

Period: Seasonal. 1 April 2024 to late July/early August; exact dates TBD.

Overview Summary
Ecostudies Institute (ESI) is hiring 7-8 seasonal avian field technician positions to work on a team conducting a variety of bird monitoring and conservation projects in the Pacific Northwest. Technicians will either have a demographic monitoring or breeding bird survey focus, but all technicians will provide support to all projects. Major responsibilities for demographic monitoring technicians will include conducting abundance surveys, resighting color-banded birds, mapping territories, and locating and monitoring nests of Streaked Horned Larks and Oregon Vesper Sparrows (both imperiled grassland ground-nesting birds) on active airfields and training areas on Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) military installation. Major responsibilities for breeding bird survey technicians will include line transect and point count surveys in prairie and prairie-adjacent habitats on- and off-JBLM and will include coordination with regional partners and private landowners. All technicians will clearly collect data, meticulously manage it, and be detail oriented in observation and documentation. Additional ongoing projects technicians may be expected to support include Western Bluebird nest box monitoring and translocations, targeted mist-netting of focal species, and assessment of conspecific attraction sites for Oregon Vesper Sparrows. All work is conducted in sites which may have other ongoing monitoring and research (butterflies, gophers, vegetation, etc.) and habitat restoration and management work (seeding, herbicide spraying, mowing, prescribed fire, etc.) by other ESI staff or partner organizations; therefore a holistic ecological outlook is an important part of the job.

Responsibilities
While technicians will have either a demographic or breeding bird survey primary focus, all technicians will support all projects and therefore responsibilities will encompass:
• Resight color-banded birds using binoculars and spotting scopes.
• Map territories and locate and monitor outcomes of concealed ground nests using bird behavior cues with particular sensitivity to avoid trampling nests or vulnerable fledglings.
• Conduct standardized line transect and point count surveys following detailed protocols and recording meticulous datasheets.
• Identify common prairie vegetation species, particularly those used as nest host plants.
• Maintain detailed field notebooks including detailed observations and daily activity logs.
• Daily data entry and regular QA/QC in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access databases.
• Operate and maintain equipment such as binoculars, spotting scopes, handheld GPS, and two-way radios.
• Use mobile apps in the field including ESRI Survey123 and FieldMaps.
• Create georeferenced nest maps in ArcGIS Pro for site managers and other personnel working in areas with demographic monitoring.
• Comply with training and protocols for working around military hazards, including on active airfields near runways, taxiways, and parking areas for helicopters and planes; navigate in the presence of other military vehicles such as tanks; work around additional hazards including but not limited to artillery, razor wire, and unexploded ordnance.
• Hike 5-10+ miles daily over challenging terrain in open landscapes in all weather conditions, beginning before sunrise.
• Assist with mist-netting or other trapping methods for adult birds.
• Assist with banding nestlings.
• Determine Western Bluebird nest box occupancy and status; assist in prep or travel for translocations as needed.

• Interact professionally with other ESI staff and partner organizations, including military personnel, and be able to communicate the value and benefit of imperiled bird conservation and recovery.
• Work collaboratively with resource agencies, consultants, and other conservation organizations.
• Complete administrative duties including tracking work hours, submitting timesheets, and recording reimbursable mileage.
• Other related duties as assigned to assist in meeting ESI’s conservation goals.

Requirements
• Completion of or progress towards BA/BS/AS/Technical or vocational degree in science-related field; or at least three years of natural resources or avian field experience.
• Ability to identify south Puget Sound grassland birds by sight and sound or quickly learn.
• Ability to hear high-frequency song of the streaked horned lark AND full-spectrum color vision to accurately record color-band resights.
• At least one season of experience with avian field techniques which may include point count surveys, nest monitoring, territory mapping.
• Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems; ability to recognize or learn important plant and animal species as required.
• Ability to follow provided protocols and instructions from colleagues.
• Ability to manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and demonstrate strong initiative in completing tasks.
• Ability to perform physical work, sometimes under adverse conditions or in inclement weather.
• Working knowledge of common software applications on computers or mobile devices (e.g., Word, Excel, web browsers, Google products).
• Must have and maintain a valid state driver’s license and safe driving record.
• Must have access to a working personal vehicle that can be used to drive to and from work locations every day (personal use of vehicle will be reimbursed based on the federal mileage rate).
• Ability to pass a federal background check to qualify for a military base pass as a contractor.

Preferred Qualifications
• Bird handling experience.
• Experience locating ground-nests using behavioral cues, monitoring nests, and determining nest fates.
• Familiarity with ESRI products such as ArcGIS Pro, Survey123, and FieldMaps.
• Experience with Microsoft Access for data entry.
• Prior experience working on a military installation or airfield.
• Knowledge of ecological land management principles.

Working conditions
• Regularly works outdoors in natural and wildland areas, often across uneven ground or in inclement weather; occasionally works indoors in an office setting.

• Works in military training areas with nearby training activities including artillery and small arms fire, aviation, and military vehicle driving training, etc.
• Occasionally required to operate an Ecostudies Institute vehicle.
• Occasionally works in conditions involving recent use of pesticides, prescribed fire, or wildfire.
• Occasionally works in conditions with unexploded ordnance hazards requiring the use of protective gear.
• Regularly walks 5-10 or more miles per day on uneven ground in open landscapes during the summer carrying a spotting scope.
• Rare evening and weekend responsibilities, including travel.
• Occasionally lifts, positions, or otherwise moves objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently works alone in the field with minimal supervision but regularly communicates with teammates at specific sites.
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How to apply
Qualified applicants should provide the following, combined in a single file:
1. Detailed cover letter describing how your interest and experience meet the job responsibilities described above. Please specify if you have a preference between a demographic monitoring or breeding bird survey focused position.
2. Current résumé or curriculum vitae
3. Names, affiliations, and contact information for three professional references
Email applications to Stephanie Augustine at avian@ecoinst.org with South Sound Avian Field Technician in the subject line. All applications will be acknowledged. Review of applications may begin as they are received until all positions are filled; preference will be given to those submitted before February 28th, 2024.